Commitments and Contingencies (Nuclear Fuel Agreements) (Details) (Pacific Gas and Electric Company [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Length of contract terms, minimum (in years)	1
Length of contract terms, maximum (in years)	14
Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2016	100.00%
Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2017	100.00%
Payments for nuclear fuel	$ 47	$ 95
Nuclear Fuel Purchase Commitments [Member]
2011	46
2012	83
2013	125
2014	143
2015	200
Thereafter	1,065
Total	$ 1,662

Specifies the maximum contractual time period covered by the arrangement.

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Namespace Prefix:	pcg
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Specifies the minimum contractual time period covered by the arrangement.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcg
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2016

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcg
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2017

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcg
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow associated with the purchase of any material that is commonly used in the generation of nuclear energy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the long-term purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date, which equals the sum of all payments due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 6
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate remaining amount of payments due after the fifth year after the balance sheet date to extinguish a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the fifth year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the fourth year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the second year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the third year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the first year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant